Local
Since we can't get together in person, we can gather for a couple hours on the second Saturday night of each month from 7-9pm Eastern Time on Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/222255972
Meeting ID: 222 255 972
Join through your computer or phone
Speakers:
Lynn Stan and Candy Watkins
Announcing the virtual Hot Times Festival
Mark Stansbery
50 years of student rebellion
Cynthia Brown
De-escalate Ohio - Heartbeatmovement
Wade Rathke and Bob Fitrakis
Voter purge project and other election issues
The struggle to make the Columbus Division of Police reflect the racial make-up of urban neighborhoods goes back nearly 50 years and perhaps longer. But even though federal lawsuits and demands to have more African Americans on the force have been ongoing for more than half-a-century, the number of Black Columbus police officers is still woefully short compared to the number of African-American residents.
Columbus police union’s FOP President Keith Ferrell has said “systemic racism” does not plague the division, but there is too much evidence showing the division’s hiring process has historically “removed many good Black officers,” several current and retired African-American Columbus police officers told the Free Press.
One question these officers raised is: Have Black and People of Color candidates been removed deliberately by systemic racism or is implicit bias to blame?
The Black officers told the Free Press they agree both factors have played a role in keeping their numbers down.
September 11th, 12th, 13th, 2020
Hot Times is a Community driven, multi-Arts event
Check out THE 2020 virtual festival at www.hottimesfestival.com and live performances and live MCs here on FB
Like many Americans, I’ll never forget where I was on 9/11. Fittingly, I was in world history class during my senior year at Bexley High School — the hallways had already been buzzing about a possible terrorist attack in New York City that involved hijacked airplanes. Since it was September 2001, we didn’t have smartphones or ample Internet access to quickly check the facts, so we wheeled in a portable TV from the Teacher’s Lounge and fired up the network stations. Sure enough, as the static faded from the screen, images of the Two Towers billowing black smoke across lower Manhattan became visible and our worst fears were realized. At that point, I had only been 18-years-old for over a month, but 9/11 was the day I went from learning about world history to watching it on live TV. By the time the bell rang, the first tower had collapsed into the streets of New York and with it, as Hunter S. Thompson wrote that day, “all hopes for Peace in Our Time, in the United States or any other country.”
Thursday, Sept. 10. 5-7pm
299 King Ave,.
In partnership with the Ohio League of Women Voters, King Avenue Church will be hosting a drive-through event in the church parking lot to help folks to check their voting registration, register to vote, update their information, and apply for absentee ballots.
You can help by spreading the word about this event!
Voting by absentee (mail-in) ballot? Don’t delay - use this link to request an absentee ballot: https://bit.ly/31cpnp4
How much incompetence can one county jail exhibit, and continue to operate? A jail break Tuesday (September 8th) from the Morrow County Correctional Facility in Mt. Gilead should be the last straw.
Despite warnings this would happen, the Morrow County Correctional Facility (MCCF) became 100% COVID-positive this year. Since the jail doubles as a federal detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), MCCF became the first 100% COVID-positive ICE facility in the nation.
Now, with two jailbreaks and a suicide in the past few weeks, one has to wonder: When will the Morrow County Commissioners, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, or anyone else with authority step in and say enough is enough, this jail needs to close?
How much incompetence can one county jail exhibit, and continue to operate? A jail break Tuesday (September 8th) from the Morrow County Correctional Facility in Mt. Gilead should be the last straw.
Despite warnings this would happen, the Morrow County Correctional Facility (MCCF) became 100% COVID-positive this year. Since the jail doubles as a federal detention center for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), MCCF became the first 100% COVID-positive ICE facility in the nation.
Now, with two jailbreaks and a suicide in the past few weeks, one has to wonder: When will the Morrow County Commissioners, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, or anyone else with authority step in and say enough is enough, this jail needs to close?
Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6-7:30pm
City of Columbus, City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.
Columbus and Franklin County are in a housing crisis. Our elected leaders continue to kick the eviction problem down the road instead of providing rent relief and providing housing for all people. Join us in calling for an end to the police violence inherent in housing set outs, and an end to the commodification of housing that prioritizes profits over the lives of people, especially our Black, brown, and immigrant neighbors.
Tune into the virtual Hot Times Festival this weekend!
7PM Friday, Sept 11
Gaye Adegbalola will perform LIVE from Virginia
10PM SATURDAY, SEPT 12
Tony Monaco LIVE from his studios!
6PM SUNDAY, SEPT 13
Bobby Floyd - LIVE from the Blue Velvet Room
7PM SUNDAY, SEPT 13
Donna Mogavero LIVE!
8PM SATURDAY, SEPT 12
Shaun Booker - Special Hot Times Concert!
Internationally known, powerhouse vocalist Shaun Booker brings her love to Hot Times in this great set not to be missed!